We went over the Mountain

We were up bright and early today. My husband slipped off to the airport in his ute, loaded up with Jelly Beanz and Mitzi (our two Old English Sheepdogs) to pick up his brother-in-law who was due to arrive from WA.

In the meantime, I decided to harvest some fresh herbs from the garden and make some savoury muffins and some apple, cinnamon and blueberry muffins. When the guys returned home, they put in an order for some porridge and once everything was prepared, we sat down and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and catch-up.

What do you do with a relly who is only here for a couple of days before heading off to the southern states? You take him to the mountain...Mt Tamborine, that is.

We headed out after the boys set about mapping a new and different way to go. Hubby wanted a new and fresh experience. We drove along the Mt Lindsay Hwy and headed off toward Canungra...the back way. We passed through some truly beautiful country that we don't often get to see. It is amazing where people decide to build.

On a previous trip out that way, we stumbled upon a little settlement called Wonglepong and found ourselves really drawn to the area. It is very peaceful and beautiful out there. The natives are doing an awesome job keeping their places in immaculate condition (well, most of them are). There is one place in particular that we both really love. We can visualize ourselves living there...one day...everyone has to have a dream...don't they?

After we exhausted most of the streets we began our assent of the mountain. Going up this back way presents itself with a slight challenge (very narrow road...too narrow for caravans, etc. Lucky for us we didn't bring our caravan...oh that's right, we don't have a caravan...well if we did...it would have been a challenge).

This was our third assent of the mount and we had to wait at 'base camp' for the lights to go green. Have you ever been in a car with an 'enthusiastic' driver who uses both hands (and arms) to express themselves and point out things of interest? My husband likes everyone to check out the scenery. He says there's no point having everyone watching the road. But I think it's so they can't see that he doesn't have his eyes on the road either.

What is it with men, machines and narrow hairpin turn roads? Mountain roads are like a magnet for dubious road etiquette. How close to the edge of a mountain road can a wheel can go before it slides off down the embankment? How many k's can you do around a hairpin corner? "Brockie ran into a tree honey, probably on a road just like this one", I tell him. "Slow down, don't go too close to the edge, watch for falling rocks (well, we have had a lot of rain these days)"...and so it goes...

We reach the top and I can begin to breathe again. Once again normality returns and hubby appears to be in control - almost. Our guest brother-in-law has never been up the mountain and the plan is to take him to the main centre of the Gallery Walk, have lunch and explore...except for one minor detail...we have never been up the mountain this back way and it soon becomes very clear to all in the car that we have no idea where we are going. Hubby turns this way and that way, backtracks and does it all again...it's a big mountain I tell our brother-in-law (who now has the refidex opened up on his lap, suspicious that there is a chance we may be lost). There were many moments where we thought we were heading back down the mountain after not even finding Mt Tamborine. Finally, though, we were saved from further embarrassment when we stumbled upon a tourist map on the side of the road...and how helpful that proved to be. I was very impressed that my mere male (MM) stopped to check.

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of dining and checking out the local shops. We were 'fortunately' saved from a sure drowning during a passing shower of rain when we escaped into the Mt Tamborine Winery. Here we were offered wine tasting of their exclusive wines. The boys left the premises (after the weather cleared) brandishing two bottles of awarded labels. Next door we ducked in and sampled some interesting dukkahs. We finished off our trip to the mountain by visiting with some friends who live up there. At least we were able to find them without too much trouble once we got our bearings.

Spending the day up on the mountain was very enjoyable and our brother-in-law assured us he enjoyed himself too. There's always lots to do and see. We missed the craft markets today, however, we can always go back another day...we need the practice.

Miscellaneous Manners

I wasn't sure I would make it onto my blog today...having all sorts of wireless problems. The trouble is I can never tell if it's me or the computer or the network. My son assures me that because we are 'crossing over' (virtually speaking) from our old system to this wireless stuff, we have to wait patiently as everything revolves around the 'billing' side of things. He tells me our speed and internet service at the present time is the equivalent to the old 'dial up' and that in a few short days, we will convert over to high speed wireless broadband...I hope this is true because it is very frustrating.

But onto other things...I saw on one of the current affair shows aired on telly last night where a couple of restaurants and shop keepers are taking a stand on the lack of manners in today's society.

Good on them - I say.

And it is none too soon...

It is music to the soul to hear someone pay their respects or show their gratitude after you have gone out of your way to help them (no matter how small). Common courtesy should be automatic and not something we hold back on. It doesn't cost us anything and sometimes when I witness a lack of manners in someone, I take particular note of their body language and attitude. It's their lack of common courtesy I notice about them - not in a positive way, nor a judgmental way, just a 'duly noticed' flag. I begin to ask myself questions about that person...it makes me take a deeper look at that person's character and I begin to wonder about them.

It is the small things in a person's character that adds colour and life to them. Saying thank you and genuinely meaning it, is gracious and builds upon relationship. There are degrees of relationships stemming from a brief encounter with a total stranger who perhaps holds open the door, to the sales assistant who helps with a transaction, to business acquaintances dealt with on a daily, weekly, monthly or annually basis, to friends and family who know us well.

Showing manners is a strength of character and there is no excuse for not using them. It is like a smile ... costs us nothing, but instantly instills and extends warmth and friendliness to a fellow human being.

Why do people withhold their manners? Is it because they just want to be rude? Does their generation mean they find themselves exclusive and therefore have no need to do it anymore? Is it a display of passive/aggressive behaviour...a power trip, or that the person who should be thanked is totally unworthy of acknowledgment? Do we simply undervalue the worth of a service? Is something so menial that it doesn't initiate even a few small words from our mouths?

It is interesting and I agree with the cafe proprietor for refusing to hand over the salad he had just made a rude customer. I'm glad he made a stand. He is a change maker. As he said, I can't change the world, but I can change my world (local area)...good on him. If we all did that, the world would be a far better place.

For many years I have been a primary school teacher and now work as a supply teacher (by choice). Almost every teaching day I am confronted with children and their manners, or their lack of manners...depending on the children and the situation. Hats off to the parents who have made manners a priority in their child/ren's life...and thankfully, there are a high number of them. Sadly though, there are many who don't seem to care.

At the end of the day or week, when I am handing out 'treats' or small awards for positive behaviour that has been displayed in the classroom, it is interesting to note just who says thank you. Amazingly, a high of students number don't exercise their manners when receiving their gift. Is this self absorbed behaviour or an attitude that dictates 'I deserved it so I shouldn't have to thank anybody'? They forget that it was my choice to implement the treat, just as it is a choice for someone to help us or perform a service (even if they get paid to do so), we should still have the good manners to thank them.

'Be thankful in all circumstances...' 1 Thess:18

Degrees of Love

To an outsider looking in, our household is probably very similar to most 'normal' families. We are made up of a mum and dad who have three young adult 'children' (let's face it, they really are 'children' disguised as YA - aren't they?) still living at home. They are my babies...or the remnants of my babies...they just like to drive themselves these days. My husband has been married before and has five adult children from his first marriage. We are a blended family which is pretty 'normal' these days (although, one might challenge me on the word - normal).

We have ups and downs, good times and challenging times, like most. I feel extremely blessed as I love the family we have created. Life is always interesting and each new day uncovers another dimension, another layer of each individual.

I guess I am a bit of a nester. I love having the kids at home, although there are the odd times when I think it is time to find out for themselves what it is really like out there in the big wide world and to really understand and appreciate just what they really have...but having said that - there's plenty of time to discover all that...isn't there???

Well, no ... not really...this year seems destined to be a year of change in our family...and my 'run' of having 'all' my little chickadees home in the roost is drawing to a close. Big changes, adjustments and shifts in dynamics are the upcoming new lessons to be learned.

Excitement is all abuzz in the house...my second daughter (middle child) has decided she wants to travel and live abroad for a year (or so???). I am really excited and think it will be a very positive experience for her. Am I ready for the tearing of the apron strings??? Is a mother ever 'ready' for her child/ren to 'fly the coop?' Most likely not...but I am trying and I've got a whole couple of months to 'condition' myself. I really do feel excited for her, but memories of her first day at Preschool and my hidden tears spring to mind. This child of mine is more than just a daughter...she is a wonderful and thoughtful friend to me too. She is precious (as my other children are) and I am going to miss her. I am going to miss the daily 'small stuff'... the everyday stuff.

I don't kid myself...everyone goes through this and I certainly don't feel sorry for myself. I am shortly going to experience another transition in life and I guess my daughter's departure signals the next stage in my life. I will mourn this passing and move on (as everyone must), but it makes me think back to how my own mother must have felt as her children 'left the roost'.

Our children love us, but I don't think they can ever know a mother's love until they are parents themselves. I mourned the loss of my father deeply. My mother is 'lost' to severe end-stage dementia and when my father passed away, I lost the love of my father. No one loved me more than my father after my mother faded. There are so many degrees of love. Don't get me wrong...I'm not viewing love as a competition. My husband loves me, my children love me, my siblings, family and friends love me ... each at varying degrees...

My kids will leave home, get married and have children of their own (hopefully), as they should. But no one will love them as I do, other than God, and I hope they can tuck that knowledge in their hearts and hold it dear. Their partners will love them, their children will love them dearly, but I will love them like no other till I am no more.

I am going to embrace this new stage that is about to happen with much excitement. The journey is the adventure, not the end. And for all the parents out there who have already had their children leave home, lost their children to misfortune, or are like me, and about to lose their children due to progress, my thoughts and prayers are with you today.

Marley and Me Moments

Those who have already seen the movie 'Marley and Me' will surely relate to my experience yesterday. We are the proud owners of two boisterous, but lovable Old English Sheepdogs, Mitzi and Jelly Beanz (JB)...Mitzi is 8 years old and is the mother of JB who is 2 years old at the end of May.

For anyone who knows Old English Sheepdogs, they are fairly 'high maintenance' in the grooming department and we normally try to maintain their hygiene and general appearance at home, though on the odd occasion, Mitzi has made a few trips to the dog groomers when we have not had the time. JB has only ever experienced our home variety pampering (and loves it, I might add). His instinct tells him how much we love to run a brush and comb through his hair. He really enjoys this special bonding time and looks forward to be pampered.

JB has an interesting little habit of plonking his head right between the legs (just above the knees) of any unsuspecting potential dog lovers who happen to visit with us. This can be a problem if you're short. He simply puts his head there, in that warm, comforting place and waits to be massaged by the visiting knees. He has never been taught to do this. It is just another instinct he has and it generally works in his favour. We alert any new visitors that they in fact could be potentially ambushed in this way...and generally, the rule of thumb is...they are. Most people are good-natured about this, but I am sure any dog behaviourist would seriously doubt the merits of this behaviour. Let's just call him a very 'tactile' puppy...his very own style of 'puppy love'.

After all the rain Brisbane has recently experienced (not to mention the mud the two dogs churn up during their daily games of 'stalk me, chase me, you can't catch me' romps through our trampled garden beds), we decided it was time to call in the professionals. I rang the dog groomers we normally use, but they no longer run the business - retired they told me, but they were able to recommend a lovely lady who was just starting out in her own business, but was very experienced.

So, after arranging an appointment for both dogs, the day arrived and with it, the need to strategize how to get them both over to the groomers. I drive a very cute smallish VW V5 Bora (with leather seats), whilst my husband has a ute (a working man/dogs' vehicle). He always takes the dogs for drives in the ute. We bought them special harnesses the secure them on the back of the tray and they love to go with 'dad' to fetch the paper on the weekends. They stand erect and feel the wind rush through their wild and woolly faces. 'Oh to feel the breeze on one's face...drool ... drool ... drool...' but hey, it's only the ute and it doesn't matter too much. We decided 'dad' would take them to the groomers on the back of the ute (on his way to work), while I followed in the Bora. I needed to meet Sue, introduce the dogs and discuss our requirements.

We arrived all safe and sound and Sue seemed quite excited about her planned day with the dogs. She'd heard good reports about Mitzi and was very positive. I warned her about JB's little 'habit' and that this was his very first visit to the groomers. We weren't too sure how it was all going to go. Sue had already decided she would devote the day to our guys...well, hydrobathing, drying, clipping, and grooming two large Old English Sheepdogs is not the quickest job in the world to do.

I spent a busy day, but I couldn't help wonder how things were going back at the dog groomers. I tried to imagine how JB was coping with all the pampering he would be experiencing. I knew Mitzi (who is quite the 'regal' type) would be on her best behaviour. I wasn't convinced getting them groomed together was the best thing to do and it was really a case of trial and error. Naturally I was hoping for a great day for Sue, but I really wasn't all that confident. They say never work with dogs and kids. Well, I'm a teacher and have survived...just on some days...so ... no...what am I worried about...it's all good...

Time to pick my babies up...I actually didn't quite last for my phone to ring...I just sneaked in before Sue rang me. "How did they go?" I asked nervously...only to be told in a very jovial voice that things went swimmingly...yes, JB spent most of the day with his head stuck between Sue's legs whenever an opportunity presented itself, but both mutts won Sue's heart and we are allowed to come back. I breathed a sigh of relief...'It's only a movie, that "Marley and Me" flick...

However, the trip home was very interesting and certainly reminded me of Marley...picture this...one small to medium sized VW Bora with Mitzi stretched out on her new plush bedroll on the backseat and JB (who is slightly larger than Mitzi) propped up on the passenger seat...a little squishy to say the least and then when he got tired, decided to lay down with two big paws wrapped around the gear shift, resting on the handbrake, dripping saliva onto the carpet...

I made sure JB was in a safe position before making the trip home, but we sure must have looked a sight for anyone who noticed. We all arrived home safe and sound, but after five minutes home...well you can figure it out...

cheers for now